sexy
babe. What made you want to go it alone for all this time?’
Flattered by his compliment, Jenny sank
back onto her knees. ‘It’s difficult to explain, but I suppose I just got fed
up of feeling hammered?’
‘Hammered?’
Sighing, Jenny fiddled with the box of a
DVD she’d never watch in a million years. ‘Look, it’s like this. I spent my
childhood working hard, passed my exams, and kept my head down. Model daughter
and all that. Got to university and met new people, and almost immediately the
reason behind my lack of interest in boys at school became obvious. I’d never
even thought about it before. The blokes in class had been my friends, you see,
so it seemed natural not to fancy them, but at Uni I found I noticed the women
more than the guys. How could that have been? It just wasn’t part of the “get a
degree, get a job, buy a house, get married, and have kids plan.”’
‘You had a plan, then?’
‘Well, not really. It was more what was assumed
of me. “Jenny always does the right thing,” and all that. Things are different
now – but then, well…’
Sitting down next to her, John took Jenny’s
hand as he listened. ‘I fought it and had boyfriends. They were all lovely. As
I said, I do find men attractive, but it just wasn’t the same somehow. Anyway, at
the risk of sounding contradictory, eventually I fell for this guy. I was so
relieved, and we were happy, but he kept making all these plans for our future
and, although that was great and everything, I couldn’t stop thinking about all
the sex I wasn’t having with other people.’
‘With women?’
‘Yes.’ Jenny could feel the heat of her
courier’s hand begin to coarse through her skin as she went on, ‘I broke his
heart, and I never wanted to feel that awful, or hurt anyone that badly, ever
again. It isn’t easy telling someone you love them but whatever they do it will
never be enough. I needed to know for sure if I really was into girls, or if I
was just imagining things.’
Although he said nothing, John’s earnest
expression told Jenny he was still listening. ‘I played around a bit. I went a
little mad, to be honest: joined a lesbian and bi-sexual dating thing, which
was very hush-hush and underground back then.’
Flexing his legs into a more comfortable position,
John couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. ‘Honey, I am paying attention, and I
get what you’re saying, really I do. But I should warn you that I’m getting
well turned on again here. Do you really want to tell me this now? I mean, I am
liable to jump right back on you. Call me shallow, but the thought of you and
another female sort of derails my concentration.’
Fixing his eyes with her own, speaking slowly,
Jenny realized she was enjoying the reaction her confession was having on him.
‘I had a ball. I licked pussy for the first time, sucked breasts, and developed
a lifelong dislike for the taste of lipstick. It couldn’t last, though. It was all
so superficial. One partner after another, all within the same small goldfish
bowl of women. It was practically incest, for heaven’s sake. Then I met Jo.’
‘Tell me.’
John’s tone was animalistic, and Jenny scooted
closer to him, her hand running a palm up and down the inside of his leg. ‘Jo
was something special; she was also very much out there. Very proud of being
gay – not to mention she was incredibly hot, clever, funny, and kind. The
trouble was, although I fell for her hook, line, and sinker, I just couldn’t “come
out.” I liked boys as well, and I blamed my indecision on my parents. I didn’t
want to upset them, but in truth, it wasn’t that. I wanted the best of both
worlds, I suppose. I was also a coward.’
‘You were very young for all those
decisions.’
‘I’m not even sure which of us finished it
in the end. There was a hell of an argument. Jo hated that I seemed ashamed of
her. She accused me of selling out. She may well have been right. Anyway, I
couldn’t